Locum tenens, or temporary veterinarians, are becoming an increasingly valuable resource for veterinary hospitals, particularly those facing staffing shortages, seasonal demand spikes, or unexpected absences. By hiring locum tenens veterinarians, hospitals can maintain continuity of care without compromising the quality of service or overburdening permanent staff. These temporary staff members step in during short-term gaps, allowing hospitals to stay fully operational, especially in high-pressure environments like emergency and specialty veterinary care.

Problem Statement:
A busy veterinary hospital that provided both general and emergency services was facing significant staffing challenges. Several full-time veterinarians were on extended leave due to personal reasons, and the hospital struggled to maintain its high standard of care with reduced staff. The permanent veterinarians were overwhelmed, leading to increased wait times for patients and stress among the remaining team. The hospital needed a temporary staffing solution to fill these gaps without sacrificing patient care or exhausting the full-time employees.

Challenges Identified:

1. Staff Shortages Due to Leaves and Absences: With multiple veterinarians on leave, the hospital was struggling to manage its patient load, particularly during peak periods and in its emergency services department.
2. Burnout Among Remaining Staff: The full-time veterinarians and technicians were working longer hours to compensate for the absences, leading to burnout and a risk of further turnover.
3. Maintaining Continuity of Care: The hospital wanted to ensure that patient care remained consistent, even with temporary staff, and that both clients and animals felt well-supported during the transition.

Solution:
Pulivarthi Group provided the hospital with locum tenens veterinarians, offering temporary staffing solutions tailored to meet the hospital’s immediate needs. Our approach involved:

1. Quick Placement of Qualified Veterinarians: Pulivarthi Group leveraged its extensive network of locum tenens veterinarians, quickly placing experienced professionals in the hospital’s general and emergency departments. These temporary veterinarians were carefully vetted to ensure they could handle the fast-paced and demanding environment of the hospital.
2. Flexible Contracts: The locum tenens staff were hired on flexible contracts, allowing the hospital to adjust the length of their placement based on changing needs. This ensured that the hospital had the right amount of coverage during critical periods without committing to long-term contracts.
3. Seamless Integration with Existing Staff: Pulivarthi Group provided support to ensure that the locum tenens veterinarians were smoothly integrated into the hospital’s team. This included pre-placement briefings and ongoing communication to ensure the temporary staff fit well with the hospital’s culture and workflow.
4. Minimizing Burnout for Permanent Staff: By providing relief through locum tenens veterinarians, the hospital was able to reduce the strain on its permanent staff, allowing them to work regular hours and avoid burnout.

Outcome:
The hospital saw immediate improvements in its operational efficiency after implementing the locum tenens solution. Within two weeks, the hospital had filled its staffing gaps, significantly reducing patient wait times and easing the workload on its permanent veterinarians. The temporary veterinarians quickly adapted to the hospital’s environment, ensuring that patient care remained consistent and high-quality.

Additionally, by utilizing flexible locum tenens contracts, the hospital was able to scale its staffing according to need, such as during peak periods or when permanent veterinarians were able to return to work. This approach also allowed the hospital to avoid costly recruitment and onboarding processes for permanent positions, saving both time and resources.

• 15% of veterinary hospitals have used locum tenens veterinarians to fill staffing gaps, particularly during high-demand periods.
• Veterinary hospitals utilizing locum tenens report a 30% reduction in burnout among permanent staff, as temporary staff provide much-needed relief.
• 40% of locum tenens veterinarians are placed in emergency and specialty veterinary hospitals, where demand for temporary staffing is highest.

By incorporating locum tenens veterinarians into its staffing strategy, the hospital was able to maintain continuity of care, protect its permanent staff from burnout, and ensure high-quality service for both clients and their pets.